Device for elevating lines



Nov. 19, 1929. .1.T. HUGHES 1,736,599

DEVICE FOR ELEVATINE LINES Filed May 3. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 19, 1929.

J. T. HUGHES DEVICE Fon ELEVATING LINES Filed may s, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Summum@ Wfl/e 7 '5 m\ w um NN wN ,N n R1.

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES J-QHNTONGUE HUGHES, F NEW YORK, N, Y.

DEVICE FOR ELEVATING LINES Application filed MayV 3, 1928. Serial No. 274,954.

The present invention is directed to a device for elevating lines upon which various articles or'devices may be suspended.v

One of the objectsof the invention is to provide a device of this'kindk whichis admirably adapted for useinyards for drying clothes, the-construction'being such that' the line can be elevated in order that persons can pass under the clothes suspended on the line and children can play in the yard without touchingthe clothes.

Another'object of'theinvention is to provide a deviceofthis character so constructed that articles, such as wearing apparel can be supported uponthe line for display purposes whenthe'line is lowered and forstorage purposes when the line is elevated, the device being particularly useful inestablishments having high ceilings which willpermit the line to 2o be elevated to such heights'that the articles thereon will be out of the way, but readily lowered when desired. v

Another object of the invention is to'provide a device of this kind designed for the advantageous display of merchandise of lvarious kinds, andrin fact for any purpose wherein it is desired to save space.

Another object ofthe inventionis to'provide means whereby a pluralityk of lines can be stretched forsupporting articles.

l/Vhile the'drawings illustrate'a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means tomeet specificr needs and? requirements the design may bevariedvrv and such other changesin the minor details of construction may be resorted to wthin'the scope of Athe invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

40 For a full understanding of the invention l 550 ofthe wheel supporting frames;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of one of the blocks, the associated parts being in proper position for assemblies.

Figure y7 is a detail view of one ofthe positions of adjustment.

Figure y8 is a diagrammatic view of a modimied form of stretching the ropes for elevating the frames.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views, of the drawings by like reference characters.

The device comprises a pair of upper and lower brackets y2 and 3, provided, respectively, with openings 4 and 5, in which are engaged the upper and lower ends of the guide rods 6, the upper ends of which are threaded inthe outer ends of the upper blocks 7, as at 8,- whilethe lower endskextend through openings 5 of the brackets 3 and have engaged thereon clamping nuts 9. The inner ends of the blocks 7 rest upon the upper brackets 2, there being lower blocks 10 which have their 75 outer ends engaged upon the brackets 3, said blocks having openings 11 and in which the lower ends of the rods 6 engage. The outer ends of the blocks 7 and 10 lare connected by guide rods'12 which have their ends threaded 80 in the sockets 13 of the respective blocks.

It willl be observed that the brackets cany be secured in any appropriate manner to the posts in a yard, or to a post and building.

It will be of course kunderstood that the bracketscan be secured to `any suitable supports, the location thereof depending upon the purpose for which the line is to be used.

One of the upper blocks has carried upon opposite sides thereof hooks 14 and 15, while 9o the other upper blocks have carried thereby oppositely located hooks 16, the purpose of which will be later explained.

The guide rods 6 and 12 are confined in the frames 17, said frames having axles 18 and or, 19 supported' transversely therein and upon which are ljournaled grooved wheels 20v and 21,y respectively, said wheels having their grooves engaged with the rods Sand 12.

' Theconfronting ends of the frames 17 have 10Q carried thereby hooks 22 and to which are secured the ends of the main line 23, which may be in the nature of a rope or wire cable, as desired.

The trames 17 have fixed thereto yokes 24, one of which has connected thereto a sheave 25, while the other has connected thereto a sheave 26, and connected with one of the hooks 16 for alinement with the sheave 26 is a sheave 27. Supported by the hook 14 are paired sheaves 28 and 29.

In order to control the raising and the lowering ot the frames 17 and thus the line 23 two lengths oi rope 30 and 30 are employed and have their ad'acent ends connected to a rino C! 31 to which is secured an anchor rope 32. The rope 30 has a stretch 33 secured to the hook 15 and is trained over the sheave 29, and is looped as at 34, to engage the sheave 25, while Y the rope 30V is trainedover the sheave 28 and leads to and over the sheave 27, and is looped, as at 34 for engagement with the sheave 26, and has its end secured to the hook 16 opposite the one which supports the sheave 27.

It will thus be seen that when the anchor,

rope 32 is pulled the loops will contract, thus drawing the frames 17 andline 23 upwardly and evenly to elevated position, the release of the rope 32 obviously lengthening the loops to permit the same to move downwardly, the frames being effectively guided in their movements by the wheels 2O and 21 upon the rods 6 and 12, and the load being evenly distributed on the line.

position rubber pads 35 are provided and have their ends provided with kers 36 which. open into the perforations 37 thereof, saidy A pair oit detachable cross bars 38 are em-- ployed when it is desired to suspend lines in addition to the main line 23, said bars having central notches 38 for fitting the squared shanks oi' the hooks 22, there being openings 39 in said bars or engaging the. bills of said hooks, thus maintaining the bars interlocked with the hooks, but readily removable when it is desired to use only the main line 23. These bars have connected thereto in any approved manner a rope to provide additional lines 40. As illustrated, a single length of rope is provided, but it will be of course understood that single strands may be employed if desired. i. The bars 38 are only used when it is desired to suspend a comparatively larger number of articles, and it is especially desirable when the device is used for drying clothes.

Adjacent the anchor rope 32 is iixed a cleat 41 to which the rope 32 can be secured to hold the frames and lines in selected elevated position. However, a drum or the like may be In order to eliminatef noise when the frames reach their lowermost used for elevating the trames should it be desired. The blocks 7 and 10 are capable of being swung laterally as shown in Figure 7 whereby they may be secured or supported in otl'set relation, so that the lines will be supported diagonally.

It will be obvious that upon tightening the nuts 9 the upper and lower blocks 7 and 10 will bindingly engage the brackets 2 and 3, respectively, thus holding the blocks in adjusted position.

' The lower blocks 3 are mounted at points to supportthe line in a position to permit a person ot' average height to conveniently place articlesl thereon within reaching distance when the line 23 is in its lowerniost position.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be seen that a device has been provided which may be used for drying clothes, suspending 1 elevating the frames 17, and thus the line 44.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. rlhe combinaton'with a. pair of upper and lower brackets, of blocks engaged upon the brackets, guide rods connecting the blocks, one of said guide. rods constituting means for holding the upper blocks in binding engagement .with associated brackets, frames slidable on the rods, a line stretched between the frames and having its ends connected withtheframes, and means for simule taneously raising or lowering the frames, and thus 'the lines. Y

2. The combination with pairs of opposed upper and lower brackets, of blocks engaged upon the brackets, a pair of rods connecting the blocksof eachpair, one rod of each pair having its upper end fixed in the associated upper blocks,means-or tightening the rod to hold. the upper blocks bindingly engaged in various positions 'of i adjustment with the respective brackets, a frame slidable on each of the pairs of rods, said :trames having grooved wheels carried thereby Jfor engaging ,the rods, a line stretched betweenthe frames and having its ends connected to the opposed ends thereof, and means for simultaneously raising or lowering the frames and thus the line. I, ,Y l

3. The combination with pairs of opposed upper and lower brackets, of blocks engaged upon the uppenbrackets, blocks engaged upon the lower brackets, a pair of rods associatedwith the upper and lower blocks of each pair, one of said rods Abeing iixed in the upper blocks of each pair, a nut upon the rod CTI for holding the upper blocks in binding engagement with the upper brackets, frames slidable on the rods, a line stretched between the frames and having its ends connected thereto, and means for raising and lowering the frames, and thus the line.

4. The combination with pairs of upper and lower brackets, of blocks engaged upon the brackets, a pair of rods connecting the blocks, frames slidable on the rods, means associated with one rod of each pair for holding the associated blocks in Various angles of adjustment upon the associated brackets, a line stretched between the frames and having its ends secured thereto, and means for simultaneously raising and lowering the frames.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN TONGUE HUGHES. [1'. s] 

